Hood latch



D. P. HYNES Feb; 7, 1939.

HOOD LATCH Filed Sept. 3, 1937- 2. Sheeps-Sheet l fiifarraeg/s Feb. 7, 1939. D. p. HYNES 2,146,186

HOOD LATCH Filed Sept. 3, 1937 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 five/2 for c/izfforzyeys Patented Feb. 7, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT O F E 7 I HOOD LATCH Dibrell P. Hynes, Chicago, 111., assignor to Chicago Forging & Manufacturingflo Chicago,

111., a corporation'of Illinoi s n Application September 3, 1937, Serial No. 162,309 Z CIaimS. (c1. 29 2 215) My invention relates to an improvement in hood latch and closure and has for one purpose the provision of a closure adaptable for use for example with hood closures of automobiles.

Another purpose is the provision of an improved closure means for firmly holding down the movable closure portion of an automobile hood. and for preventing its unintended opening.

Another purpose is the provision of means for preventing rattling of such closure.

Another purpose is the provision of means for preventing distortion of the hood when closed. Another purpose-is the provision of improved reinforcing means for reinforcing the hood closure.

Other-purposes will appear from time to time in the course of the specification and drawings.

I illustrate myinvention more or less diagrammatically in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is an inside elevation;

Figure 2 is a sectionpnthe line2-2 of Figure 1; c

Figure 3 is a section on the line 33 of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is an enlarged view of a portion of the structure shown in Figure 1;

Figure 5 is a section on the line 5-5 of Figure 4;

Figure 6 is a view of the structure shown in Figure 4 with the parts in a different position;

Figure 7 is a section on the line l-l of Figure 6; and

Figure 8 is a section on the line 8-8 of Figure 1.

Like parts are indicated by like symbols throughout the specification and drawings.

Referring to the drawings, 1 indicates a portion of the automobile body and 2 a portion of the radiator structure or some part adjacent to or associated therewith. 3 indicates a portion of the hood closure herein shown as the movable or hinged portion. As the details thereof do not of themselves form part of the present invention, I do not show the hinged structure. Secured, for example, by bolts to the inner face of the member 3 is a reinforcing channel, including a body portion 4 herein shown as curved and flanges 5, 6 at the opposite edges thereof with intermediate webs 1 whereby the members 5 and 6 engage the inner face of the closure 3 and support the portion 4 in inwardly spaced relation thereto. 4

Secured to the member 4 is a rock shaft 8 herein shown as curved or distorted by the employment of a plurality of bearing members 9, 9, l6, Ill. The details of the bearing members 9, 9 are shown for example in Figure 8, said bearing member'including the rod engaging loop H, the toe l2; penetratingthrough the aperture 13, the flange [4 bearing against the face of the member land any suitable bolt or securing means E5. The ends of the rod 8 are offset to form locking cranks it which operate against any suitable upwardly and inwardly inclined locking keepers or brackets IT, as shown for'example in Figure 8. I8 is a central crank ofiset of the rod 8. It may be rotated into and out of locking position, for example by the exterior handle 19, and includes a generally cylindrical portion 26' terminated in a fiat screw threaded portion 21, the portion 2! projecting through an aperture 22 in the member 3' and through an'intermediate portion of the channel member 4. 23 indicates a crank member shown as having a substantially fiat bearing surface opposed throughout a substantial area to the central portion 25 of the channel member 5. It has a crankportionproper 26 shown as'rolled in a partially cylindrical form and inclined inwardly somewhat in relation to the bearing face of the member 23. It is provided with any suitable hardened outer sleeve 21 conforming in shape thereto and held in position for example by crimped portions 28. This hardened surface 21, which may be of thin sheet metal, is opposed to the crank offset l8 and the two are held in engagement or opposition by any suitable stirrup 29, which stirrup is apertured to fit over the portion 26 and may also be held in position by the crimped portions or lugs 28. Since it is rotatable about the member 26, it moves as the handle i9 is rotated and prevents any unintended binding or looking.

With reference for example to Figure 6, it will be seen that the crank offset l8 has radial portions 36 which are connected at their outer ends by a connecting portion including two angular sections 3| and 32, the purpose for which will later appear.

The central portion 25 of the channel member 4 may be reinforced by a spacing or reinforcing member having a web 33 opposed to the inner surface of the member 25 and conforming generally thereto. It may have a circumferential spacing flange 34 and a cup 35 terminating in a 7 bearing sleeve 36, which is aligned with a bearing sleeve 31 formed in the portion 25 of the reinforcing channel. The portion 26 extends through said bearing sleeves and the assembly may be locked together as by the washer 38 and the lock nuts 39. The reinforcing member may also be provided with a lug 40 extending through an aperture 4| in the portion 25 and serving as a limiting abutment for the member 23. It may also be provided with ears 42 which extend through apertures 43 in the member 25 to form the bearings I0 for the rock shaft 8.

It will be realized that whereas I have described and shown a practical operative device, nevertheless many changes may be made in size, shape, number and disposition of parts. I therefore wish my drawings to be taken as in a broad sense illustrative and diagrammatic rather than as limiting me to the specific structure herein described and shown. It will be realized, for example, that whereas I have shown my rock shaft and locking means as mounted on the movand inwardly at the same time in a firm and rattle-preventing position. The resilience of the rod 8 and its cranks and the fact that the crank l 6 is set on an inclined surface provides an automatic take-up feature to care for wear or for variations in size and location of parts. This is important under assembly line conditions of production. 7

When the handle is moved in the direction of the arrow of Figure 1 through an arc of about ninety degrees," the rock shaft 8 is rotated into unlatching position, the cranks I6 being moved in the direction of the arrow in Figure}. This rotation of the rock shaft 8 is caused by the enthe inclined portion 32.

inclined or bowed, causes movement of the rock shaft toward locking posigagement of its intermediate crank portion be tween the crank member 26 of the handle assembly and the stirrup 29. The portions 3|, 32 have i for function to crowd the rock shaft toward locking-position and to maintain a firm locking relationship. Starting from the unlocked position, the member 26 first rides along one of the rock shaft portions 30 and thereby causes a rotation of the rock shaft. However, it shortly rides: over the end of the section 30 and then rides upon This being outwardly a further progressive tion. The parts are so proportioned that when the member 23 engages the abutment 40, the device is slightly past center and the torsion of the rock shaft tends to keep the parts in locked position.

I claim:

1. In securing means for a closure, a rock shaft and means for rotating it, including a handle pivoted for rotation about an axis generally perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the rock shaft, said rock shaft having an intermediate crank portion, a crank member opposed thereto and associated with and movable unitarily with said handle, said crank portion of the rock shaft. inj eluding a radially extending portion lying in a plane which includes'the axis of rotation of the rock shaft, and a crowding portion inclined in '3 relation to said plane. 7 1 p 2. In securing means for a closure, a rock shaft and means for rotating it, including a handle pivoted for rotation about an axis generally perpendicular to the axis of' rotation of the rock shaft, said rock shaft having an intermediate crank portion, a crank member opposed thereto and associated with and movable unitarily with said handle, said crank port-ion of the rock shaft including a crowding portion inclined from parallelism with a plane which includes the axis of rotation of said rock shaft.

DIBRELL P HYNES. i 

